Safe protector



April 9, 1935. T. N. LEWIS 1,997,113v

SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet i I mentor .7/z0Z7m5/V17ewz'5,

Attorney T. N. LEWIS 1,997,113

SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1954 April "'9, 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventor Attorney April 9, 1935.

T. N. LEWIS SAFE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor'Attomey Patented Apr. 9, 1935 P TEN -OFFIC 1,997,113 7 SAFE PROTECTOR'1 I Thomas N; Lewis st Louis, Application September 8, 1934, Serial No.743,295 at 8 Claims. (01. 1094) I This invention relates to devicesusedfor protectingthe combination locks of bank vaults and safes and has asits object the provision .of a device which will frustrate burglars whenthe latter, as is the-usual practice when the combination lockcannotbeimastered, attempt to knock oif the knob of the permutation lockand drive the spindle inwardly, therebymoving the lock tumblers in thesafe out of line with the dog' or fence, and release the lockingengagement of the bolt stop with the bolt of the look; there beingprovided-in accordance with the presentinvention, means operableto'discharge an obnoxious gas as soon as an eifort is made in the mannerjust described to unauthoritatively enter the safe or bank vault. 7

The invention, together with its objects and" advantages, will be bestunderstood from a studyof the'following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device applied; Figure 2 is aperspective view of a slide member.

I Figure 3is' a plan view of a-gas containing tube, parts thereof beingbroken away and shown in section; c

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the device in appliedposition; the gas tube being omitted. V v V Figure 5 is a fragmentaryview partly in section and partly in elevation" illustrating certaindetails of construction to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view. Figure '7 is a similar view takenat right angles to Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view'showing the eccentric pinarrangement of the device Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, it will'be seen that Iii designates'a circular casing'offrangible material having an open side to which is secured a plate l Ihaving an integral formation H formed thereon and recessed as at l2 toaccomodate the dial l3 of the permutation lock with which the vault orsafe I4 is equipped;

said formation at the inner end of the recess I2,

being also provided with an opening E5 to accommodate the knob l6 of thepermutation look as clearly shown in Figure 4. At the open side thereofthe casing I B is provided with an inwardly directed flange I! wherebythrough the medium of screws or other fastening devices l8 the plate nis secured to the casing. V

A disk l9 of suitable material has a reduced portion |9a rotatable in anopening ZUprovided inan end wall of the casing in. For the disk 19 thereis provided a knob 2| that engages the outer face of the'end wall-of thecasing l and is secured to the disk H! by screws or. the like 22, thedisk [9 and knob 20 being secured in this manner cooperating to retainthe diskvin operative. position. I The disk I9 is also'provided with ahollow hub 23 that terminates in slightly spaced relation to the endwall ofthe recess l2.- The hub 23 of the diskis also slotted as at 24for slidably accommodating a slide 25, provided on one edge with ratchetteeth 26, springs 45 yieldingly retaining the slidein retractedposition. v

On the insiderof theend wall of the casing I In there is a stop lug 2'!and to accommodate the lugthe disk I9 is formed with an arcuate grooveor slot- 28 the ends of whichformshoulders 29 and 29 ';that engagethelug 27 for limiting 'rotative-movement of the disk. Lug 21 is providedwith ratchet teeth 30 cooperable with theteeth of the slide in a mannerto lock thedisk l9 against rotation;

For operating the. slide 25' thereis-provided in 25 the knob 2| of thedisk a conventional keyoperated lock 3| the rotating tumbler of which isprovided with an eccentric pin 32 that operates in a D -slot 33 providedin the slide 25 intermediate the ends of the latter, as clearly shown inFigure 5. Manifestly by placing the key 34 in the lock 3l and rotatingthe tumbler. thereof the .slide. 25 will be projected or retractedaccording to the direction of rotation of the tumbler and as it isdesired to lock. or release the disk I9.

35 For releasably securing the device in place, there are pivoted to theend wall of the recess 12 atcircumferentially spaced points, dogs"3 5that are normally urged by suitably mounted springs 36radially'outwardly with respect to the center 0 of'the device and theneck of the knob is. Adjacent their free'ends thedogs are provided withlaterally extending pins on which are journaled rollers 31 that areengaged by cam humps 38 formed on the inner edge of a ring 39 secured tothe inner side of the disk H! by screws 40 and spaced from the'disk bysleeves 4| disposed on the screws between the ring and the disk asclearly shown in Figure 4.

From the above it will be apparent that normally the cams 35 are inspreadorradially outward position. When in this position, the casing andassociated parts are slipped over the knob l6 and dial l3 of thecombination lock. The knob 2| is then turned to rotate the disk in acountersecured-in position as above described, I should an the cracksmanwill be drive'n awayor'disabled.

lock against unauthorized opening, a casing of :2 clockwise direction asviewed in Figures 5 andfi. Rotation of the disk will, through the mediumof the cams 38.engaging the rollers 31, force the dogs 35 against theaction of springs 36. radially inwardly to engage the neck of the knobIt in a manner to secure the deviceiin positiorr- Also, and as isobvious, the disk l9 will rotatein the direction just mentioned untilthe shoulder 23 is brought into engagement with the lug 21 when the key34 is turned to project the slide 25 alined with the lug 21 resulting inan inter-engagement of the teeth 26 and 30. The key 34 is then withdrawnwhereupon the device is left in position with the disk l9 securedagainst unauthorized rotation to release the device. 7

Arranged within the casing Ill isra circularor doughnut-shaped tube 42of frangiblematerial,

such as glass, and as shown-thetdbefits concentric to the recess i2 andthe disk 49. Sealed within the tube is a gas 43, commonly known inthe-art as tear 'gasand-consistin'g of a suitable mixture of'chloracetophenone and chloropi'crin in liquid form, and which, as 'iswell known,evapknown tear-gas. V v r It will thus be "apparent that withthe device attempt be made to disturb'the lockedv condition -o'f a safe,and in so doing the burglar attempt to pry off the casing-10, the tube"42 will be' brok en or fractured, resulting in making an exit for thegas, andas'is obvious, uponliberation of the gas "What'iselaimed is: v r

1. In combination witha 'lock'having a dial and a knob, meansforprotecting theflock against unauthor zed access to -the knob or dial,said means comprising a casing, key-controlled cam-actuatedmeans-fordetachably locking the casing to the knob with the easingconcealing th'e kn'o'b-and dial, andan an'nu'lar tubular vessel offran'gible material, charged with 'a toxic fluid, arranged withinthe'casing. I

2. In a device for protecting :a permutation brittle material, means-fordetachably locking "the casing to the l'ock to conceal the knob and dialof the lock, said means including pivoted elements 'engageable with thelock to "secure-the casing thereto, and key-controlled, 'carn-ac'tuatedmeans for securing the pivoted element "against unauthorized re'leasej'3. In a device for protecting a permutation "lock against unauthorizedopening, "a casing adapted to receive the -knob o'f the lock, pivotedlocking dogsjwithin the casing en'ga'geable' with the knob fordetachably "locking the casing to the lock, \me'ansffor moving the dogsinto and' .out of engagement with'the'knob of the lock, and

a -.vesselof frangible material, charged with a toxic fluid, arrangedwithin the casing.

,Within thecasing to engage *dial of" sageof thel'knob of the look intothe casing,

4. In a device for protecting a permutation lock against unauthorizedopening, a casing of brittle material, pivoted elements arranged theknob of the lock to detachably secure the casing on the look, a rotaryactuator arranged in the casing, means operatively connecting theactuator with the pivoted members for moving the latter into lockingengagement with the knob of the lock, and key-controlled means forsecuring 'the actuator against unauthorized rotation.

5. Ina device for protecting a door against unauthorized opening, acasing, having an end plate provided with a recess to accommodate thethe lock, and an aperture for the pasmeans for detachably locking thecasing to the knob of the lock, and a doughnut shaped tube of frangiblematerial arranged within the casing and charged with a toxic fluid.

6.1'In' a :device for preventing unauthorized Itampering with apermutation lock, a casing iprovided with an end plate having a recessto accommodate the dial-of the :lockandan-aperture to "accommodate theknob of thelock and .permit 'the'casing to be slipped onto the look, a rseries =of pivoted dogs arranged within the casing and adapted to be:moved into engagement with the knob ior'releasably locking the casingto the lock rotarycam means within the casingand engageable with thedogs for moving the latter into engagement with the knob of the lock,ac- 'tuator means for Isa-id cam means, and :means internally *of.thecasing holding a chargeof gas or gas-producing liquid wherebyunauthorized removal of the casing from the lock will cause ,aliberation of the gas charge.

'7. In alock protecting device, a casing surrounding 1thecontrollingelement of a lock mechanism,key-'controlled, ,pivoted elementmounted i -nternally of the=casingengageable withthe'controllingoelements of the-lock mechanismior releasablylocking thecasing thereto, anda .doughnut-shaped tube, charged with a gas orgasproducing fluid-arranged within the casing :and

surrounding the said controlling element crime lock mechanism.

,8. In a lock protecting device, a mounting teasing surrounding thecontrolling elements of a'lock mechanism; locking dogs pivotally mountedin the casing and engageable with the controlling elements :forreleasably locking the casing thereto, an actuator rotatably mounted inthe casing, interengaging means on theiactua'tor and the dogs.iorimoving the latter into engagement with the said controllingelements, of the lock mechanism, a knob 'for the actuator, keycontrolledmeansarranged in the knob for looking the actuator against unauthorizedoperation,

and frangible means within'the casing, charged with a gas orgas-producing fluid. I

(THOMAS N. LEWIS.

